by
African Methodist Episcopal University (AME), a Liberian institution is seeking partnership with the University of Calabar (UNICAL) in the area of research, students and staff exchange programmes.
The proposed partnership was brought to the fore when the Vice-Chancellor of AME, Dr Alvin Attah, paid a working visit to UNICAL Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Florence Banku Obi in Calabar.
Dr Attah, who is an alumnus of UNICAL, said that the need to give back to his alma mater informed his decision to pay a visit to UNICAL.
The AME vice chancellor, who said he would continue to be a good ambassador of UNICAL, expressed optimism that the partnership would expand the frontiers of knowledge.
“I am here to see how well we can collaborate in some common areas like staff and students exchange and research.
“We have issues in Africa and unless we find solutions within ourselves to solve them, nobody will do it for us.
“We have common traditions, common cultural values and we all need each other to see how we can move forward.
“As a malabite, it is a good thing for me to come and visit where I was trained,” he said.
According to him, AME is also partnering with other universities in Africa, and maintained that UNICAL being a reputable tertiary institution have been chosen among many others.
Responding, the vice-chancellor of UNICAL, Obi said she was pleased that an alumnus of UNICAL was at the helm in a Liberian university.
Obi, who said she was proud of the AME vice chancellor, said “you have done so well, we congratulate you as a malabite, once a malabite, always a malabite’’.
She called on the AME vice chancellor to always make his alma mater proud by projecting the image of the institution.
Prof. Obi told the AME vice chancellor that having risen to the position of a vice-chancellor in Liberia, it shows that UNICAL churns-out quality individuals who have been found worthy in character and learning.
She commended the AME boss for deeming it fit to involve UNICAL in his quest for African collaboration and partnership.
Obi said that it was easier for Africa to partner with itself rather than looking outward all the time.
“UNICAL is ready for the partnership and modalities will be put in place by the institution’s Directorate of External Relations and Partnership to cement the relationship between both universities,” she said.
